Print Peeps Interview with Sarah Grateley

Yippee my first Print Peeps interview - so excited to introduce you to Illustrator and Surface Pattern Designer Sarah Grateley and her work. Sarah has very kindly agreed to answer my questions about her business as a freelancer - so if you want to find out more or your interested in getting into this type of work then check out her answers below.

Hi Sarah, tell us about your business, what do you do and why did you start up?

I am a freelance illustrator/surface pattern designer and mural artist (and Mum to two lovely peeps!! Phew!). Based in Stafford, I studied Visual Communication at the UCE in Birmingham, specialising in my final year in Illustration and graduating in 1998.

Since then I have been part time designing/illustrating for various commissions and studios, alongside working part time at the Shire Hall Art Gallery in Stafford. I was taught all about surface pattern and putting designs in repeat by Mary Jones Design Studio based in Stafford where I worked in house for many years.

In the last 3 years since the Gallery sadly closed down and the staff were made redundant, I have fully concentrated on my creative business, doing commissions for greeting cards, selling patterns for fabrics, clothes, gift wrap, and illustrating children’s books. My style is very much geared towards juvenile and children’s products.

More recently I have been asked to do murals, I have just completed one for a new milk shop business on a local farm, along with some illustrations for use on their social media.

What is your typical work day like and where do you do your design work?

I have vague memories of this as Covid has naturally thrown things around a bit with my children being off school!! So pre-covid a typical day (after the school run) would involve checking out any new opportunities either on linked in or the Print Pattern blog, emailing a few companies with samples of my work or responding to requests for commissions.

I work from home in my office in the conservatory. Each day for me has to involve being creative in some way, so I will either work on a current commission, firstly sending sketches to the client, or working on some new ideas to add to my agency’s portfolio for clients to view online. I am very blessed to be able to do the school run, be there for my kids and earn a good part time wage from running my creative business.

How do you create your designs and illustrations - do you have a favourite tool?

Most of my work starts out by hand by creating stencils for my motifs which I then print with a simple sponge and water based printing inks to create lots of texture. They are scanned in and coloured using Illustrator CC, with other motifs and lines added using Illustrators fabulous brushes!

What’s the best thing about being a creative business owner?

As well as the flexibility of being self employed with a young family, nothing beats seeing your designs or illustrations on a product! I was so excited when I found my first set of illustrations for Christmas cards produced by CCA Art and Design, in Beatties! (Actually my mum may have been even more excited than me!).

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?

Many people have said to me over the years that networking is hugely important in the creative industries. There are only so many contacts you can make, who will potentially give you work, by sitting at home and emailing. Get yourself to trade shows and introduce yourself to relevant companies, join creative groups on Facebook and Linked In, talk to other creatives and share your experiences, you never know where one conversation might lead!

What advice would you give other creative business starting out?

Accept that you will get rejected and don’t take it personally, it doesn’t mean your work is not good! Keep believing in yourself and your work all the time and don’t stop being creative and developing your work further.

I had several rejections from one particular greeting card company over a few years and then eventually they saw some of my new designs on Linked In and asked me to do a full range. Just because they don’t have a need for your work at one stage doesn’t mean they won’t in the future, keep letting them know you are there every now and then, but be polite and friendly.

Do you have any exciting plans for your business in the future?

My children are both at school full time from September which gives me a lot more time to get organised and plan my time better. I am being considered by a new agency which should bring more children’s book illustration work, which is my true passion, and I would also love to do some more murals, maybe in a hospital or cafe! I am also planning a new website with a shop page to purchase prints direct from me.